AZE.US
Azerbaijan has introduced administrative penalties for begging, with offenders now facing warnings, fines and, in some cases, short-term detention.
The change is reflected in a new Article 523-1 added to the Code of Administrative Offenses and approved by President Ilham Aliyev, according to local media reports.
Under the new rule, a person engaged in begging may receive a warning or be fined between 100 and 200 manats. If the circumstances of the case and the person’s conduct make those measures insufficient, administrative arrest of up to 10 days may be applied.
The law sets a stricter penalty for involving minors in begging. In such cases, the fine ranges from 200 to 500 manats. If a fine is deemed insufficient, the offender may face administrative arrest of up to 15 days.
The distinction is important. The new article does not only address people asking for money in public places. It also targets those who involve children in begging, a practice often seen near busy streets, metro stations, markets and shopping areas.
For Baku, the issue has long been visible in everyday life. Beggars are commonly seen at traffic lights, near public transport hubs and outside commercial centers. The new provision gives authorities a specific legal tool to respond to the practice, with separate penalties depending on whether minors are involved.
The measure also raises a broader question for enforcement: whether the authorities will focus mainly on organized exploitation and the use of children, or whether ordinary street begging will become the primary target of administrative action.
AZE.US